Hoofs of Pegasus

<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</SPAN></span></p> <h2>THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER</h2> <div class="poetry-container"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0"><span class="bigfont">T</span>HEN Jesus said, “I thirst”, and there was one</span> <span class="i0">Who filled a spunge, and put it to His mouth—</span> <span class="i0">An unknown Roman soldier—his the joy</span> <span class="i0">In the three hours to quench that sacred drouth.</span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">They had been dicing, and the seamless coat</span> <span class="i0">Had fallen to him. Now the thick darkness came</span> <span class="i0">Over the land. He watched the Crucified</span> <span class="i0">Wondering, in doubt, this soldier without name.</span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">“Bacchus! The Jew knew how to die. The nails</span> <span class="i0">Were blunt. He neither railed nor cursed.</span> <span class="i0">Even the sturdy thief had called him ‘Lord’”.</span> <span class="i0">At the ninth hour there came the cry, “I thirst”.</span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">The Roman held the vinegar to his lips,</span> <span class="i0">And looked with pity on His dying Face.</span> <span class="i0">O Unknown Soldier, pray for me to give</span> <span class="i0">My love’s poor wine, and give it with such grace.</span></div> </div></div> <hr class="chap" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />